Chapter 229: Lucoa's Night Attack Plan is Foiled!
"What! Ryohei-kun wants to come to my house?"
The white steam rose in wisps, weaving a flowing, gauzy veil. Lucoa raised a pale hand to cover her parted lips, looking at Ryohei Tanaka in absolute shock.
"Hmm?"
Ryohei blinked, tilting his head with a completely confused look. "Is that what I just said?"
Her reaction... If he hadn't said the words himself, he almost would have believed her.
Ryohei raised his hand—Pa!—and slapped Lucoa's snow-white, rounded... shoulder.
Yurine Hanazono frowned. Her gaze shot past Ryohei, narrowing at Lucoa. What are you trying to pull?
"Aha!" Lucoa, not the least bit embarrassed, flashed a proud smile, her cherry-pink lips glistening in the warm light. "I've always been good at artistic interpretation! I was just... interpreting... your words, Ryohei-kun!"
"When did you become good at that?" Ryohei asked skeptically, raising an eyebrow.
"Just now!" Lucoa declared firmly.
"..." Ryohei couldn't help but roll his eyes.
Feeling the intense stare from his other side, Ryohei reached for Yurine's small hand, rubbing the back of it with his thumb. He looked back at Lucoa. "So, can you do it?"
"Mmm! If Ryohei-kun makes me happy first!" Lucoa turned her head, tapping her cheek in a frantic, unsubtle hint.
"...Trying to bargain now? That's not the behavior of a good vassal, Lucoa. You disappoint me."
Ryohei's brow twitched. He knew exactly what she was implying—she wanted a kiss. But with Yurine right there—especially now that she was gripping his hand back tightly—it wasn't a good idea.
"Eh? Did Ryohei-kun expect me to help for free? Can't I make one tiny little request?" Lucoa looked at him, her face a perfect mask of 'Are you trying to exploit me?'
"That's not what I meant," Ryohei quickly backpedaled. He pulled Yurine over, settling her onto his lap. He wrapped his right arm around her slender, soft waist and held up his left hand, balling it into a fist and extending it toward Lucoa.
"I'll let you be the first to taste the new dessert."
"You're fobbing me off again, Ryohei-kun!" Lucoa pouted, but she dutifully bumped his fist with her own.
Ryohei felt a little guilty. He was fobbing her off.
'Fine,' he thought to himself. 'After the dessert is done, I'll give you a... hidden bonus. A nice reward for you... and a reward for myself...' He was planning on becoming a "Dragon Knight."
...
Yurine sat quietly on Ryohei's lap, leaning against his chest and listening to their conversation. Since it was technically "business," she didn't interrupt, even though she had a bad feeling her boyfriend was about to be poached.
When they finished talking, Yurine's lips parted, but she hesitated.
Should I go with them? Would that make me look too possessive?
It didn't feel right.
But if I don't go... Yurine wasn't happy about that, either. She felt that if she wasn't there to watch, Ryohei, this pig, would be eaten clean by Lucoa in another world.
Yurine was, in truth, mentally prepared for them to have a "thing" on the side. But there was a big difference between tacitly allowing it and openly accepting it.
She leaned her head back on Ryohei's shoulder, looking at his profile. "Is the restaurant going to be closed for the next few days?" she asked softly.
"No, we'll be open. We'll go tomorrow morning and be back around 4 PM," Ryohei said, leaning down to give Yurine an affectionate kiss on the cheek. He deliberately didn't ask her to come. He felt he needed to give Lucoa some one-on-one attention, especially after she'd complained about being lonely. He had to pay her back for all her help.
"Eh? Back the same afternoon?" Lucoa was shocked. You're not staying for a night or two? A dessert like that won't be easy to figure out!
"The restaurant, you know!" Ryohei gave Lucoa a 'what-can-you-do' look. He had considered staying overnight, but he was afraid Yurine would either object or demand to come along.
Yurine, however, was instantly relieved. A small, faint smile played on her lips. "Okay then. Just make sure you're back early."
She wouldn't go.
... Yurine began to plot. I'll just have to completely exhaust Ryohei tonight. Even if that thieving dragon gets a bite, I'll make sure it's not a satisfying one!
Thinking this, her mood brightened considerably. She began to mentally review her wardrobe, considering which "battle robe" she should wear later.
Lucoa, seeing her opportunity slip away, made one last attempt. "Ryohei-kun, you need to be focused on your work. Let's just close the restaurant for two days. It's not a big deal; we've done it before."
A morning-to-afternoon trip doesn't work for me! I was planning a night attack! You have to at least stay one night! Give me a chance!
... Yurine, who had been planning her outfit, shot Lucoa a sharp, sidelong glance. That thieving dragon! I knew she was up to something!
"No need to close." Ryohei said, "I'm also planning to ask Medusa to gather some dessert information and ingredients from the Demon World for me."
He paused, then added, "We need to be back tomorrow afternoon. The real development work will start the day after."
"Eh?" Lucoa was surprised. "You're asking Medusa, too?"
"...Fine, fine." She slumped, resting her arms on the edge of the pool, and sighed in disappointment.
Her grand, carefully crafted plan for a night attack... foiled before it even began.
What a pity!
~~~
Get early access to 20+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
~~~
Every 5 new reviews = 1 extra chapters
Every 150 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter